Teeto Ceemos speaks from the heart on ‘Verses After Dark’ [Album Review]

On the opening observe to Lataaro, he went into an introspective bag that was loaded with searing information and mellow revelations. In the course of the promo run for ‘Lataaro,’ Rae Slick joked about Ceemos’ means to enter that darkish introspect and produce a scary kind of honesty by saying, “Omo, egbon you don endure o… Wetin occur? [laughs]”

ALSO READ: Teeto Ceemos and Rae Slick speak with Pulse Nigeria

If Ceemos took a very long time to launch his ‘Lataaro,’ he returns with Verses After Darkish only one 12 months later and it comes with straight warmth… duh, it’s Teeto Ceemos, it’s going to at all times be hearth. As he reveals on the album opener ‘Exodus,’ the fast turnaround time was impressed by one thing that occurred in 2019.

The observe paperwork Ceemos’ journey by means of these pre-Lataaro years of doubt. He raps, “The rapper I used to be born to be, I couldn’t be…”

He then discovered himself and launched ‘Lataaro’ with Rae Slick in 2019. Issues regarded up and so they carried out at Rhythm Unplugged in 2019, however the crowd was unmoved and people occasions shattered Rae Slick. The observe seems like one which paperwork combined feelings, however Ceemos merely forgot to be grateful. Not everyone has a comeback story.

Nonetheless, starvation is what winners are fabricated from. He completes the music by rapping, “However there was a lesson realized, we ain’t shit heat more durable…” That ‘Rhythm Unplugged’ second impressed him to make this album and he made it.

The album is conceptually themed as a great soundtrack for a drive for a late night time drive by means of Lagos or happenings round Lagos nightlife.

The idea is summed up by, ‘Late Night time Drive.’ As Ceemos is caught in site visitors, he performs Asa’s ‘Bibanke’ earlier than choosing up a smoker-girl and spends the night time along with her, doing NFSW. A number of different tracks – just like the trap-based ‘At Night time’ that includes Zamir or LOS – on the album are themed in direction of Lagos nightlife, however numerous these experiences appear unbiased of one another.

One then wonders if Ceemos may have tied them collectively along with his album sequencing. Curiously, Ceemos additionally locations the pivotal ‘Late Night time Drive’ in the midst of the album when it may have come first as a tone setter.

The issue with that’s that the chunk of ‘Exodus’ would have been misplaced. Whereas ‘Exodus’ is a superb intro, ‘Late Night time Drive’ higher fits the idea that Ceemos tries to tug off as an opener. It’s fairly uncertain that ‘Exodus’ fits a late night time drive – it’s a tough report.

On the album, Ceemos is typically a loverboy. Generally, he’s a Yoruba demon. Generally, he loves a great time. Generally, he brings in that searing introspect and different instances he’s a political commentator. All of the whereas, the manufacturing is spectacular and the album is concise – at simply 32 minutes lengthy.

Teeto Ceemos, loverboy

‘Gidi Nights’ options veteran singer, Niyola. In picture-esque element, Ceemos paperwork how an unplanned hangout at Niyola’s automobile warming grew to become an opportunity assembly with an exquisite, curvy girl – presumably Yoruba. Ceemos tries to current himself as a loverboy and Niyola sings about “love in Lasgidi,” however he sounds extra like a Yoruba demon.

Extra apparently, Ceemos makes use of that state of affairs to creatively digress into describing a typical Lagos night time and why home events are one of the best. In summation he raps, “Go away your manners on the door once you enter…” Effectively, these events can get actually wild.

The ‘loverboy’ persona was higher executed on the aptly-titled, ‘Falling’ that includes Chike Agada and veteran, Lord Vino. Shout-out to that girl, she noticed by means of Ceemos’ and noticed that Yoruba demon. She says, “Toyin, you’re simply toying with my mind…” That’s a intelligent play on phrases too.

However apparently, the connection began from Twitter DMs. Lord Vino cements Ceemos’ efforts and balances the music out. On ‘Late Night time Drive’ he raps that, “My chick nyash so enormous, it provides me anxiousness and I adore it…” Omo, Ceemos’ obsession with the derriere is wild, however we’ll forgive him. He’s a Yoruba man…

Teeto Ceemos, Mr. Introspective

It’s all not all love and fairly stuff. Ceemos goes into his bag for some heavy Hip-Hop information. On the sample-heavy ‘Loyalty’ that includes Ozone discusses life and its many imperfections. He discusses womanly heat however juxtaposes it along with his belief points as he bemoans prevalent disloyalty within the Nigerian society.

Ozone comes again with a special perspective and points one thing of a response. It’s nearly as if he takes Ceemos’ claims on disloyalty private. He discusses how he went again to highschool resulting from loyalty and honour. He additionally makes a reference to his ill-fated spell at Aristokrat Data alongside Mojeed and the label’s CEO, Peedi Picasso also referred to as Piriye Isokrari.

‘Overdose’ follows an analogous mould. Produced by BeatsByJayy, it continues a few of the chronicles of low moments that we heard on ‘Exodus.’

However the distinction between each tracks is that whereas Ceemos appeared indignant and reeling from the ache of that darkish place of struggling to create on ‘Exodus,’ he stands straight, stands out a center finger and will get vindictive on ‘Overdose.’

He raps, “Give me my bouquets on flooring that’s marble paid…” He continues, “Some niggaz thought I stop, I been listening to all of the rumours. You possibly can name your self a critic, however to me you’re a shopper! Transfer at night time and sleep all day, f*** a fitbit dem n*** can’t match my tempo…”

Because the lo-fi Hip-Hop knocks with the vocal pattern and the bass, the observe will get intense, but calming. Rae Slick is an effective rapper, however he could be higher as a singer as a result of he completely ripped that hook – Jesus! On the finish of an extended day whereas driving house, a observe like this might positively recalibrate the Hip-Hop head.

The introspect isn’t restricted to music although. On ‘Mistaken Issues,’ Ceemos additionally reminisces about previous relationships and exes. With the assistance of Moon, he pegs his private struggles in love all the way down to his human excesses. On ‘Life,’ Ceemos and Vector lower deep into losses and struggles with the assistance of Dami Oniru. This observe may have finished with an AQ verse although.

The political facet

Alongside ‘Overdose’ that includes Rae Slick, ‘Journey With Me’ that includes Present Dem Camp and the proficient April Maey is one of the best music on this album. Ceemos and Present Dem Camp situation a socio-political examination of the prevalent ills in Nigerian governance. Ghost additionally produces probably the greatest verses Nigeria has seen in 2020. Don’t sleep on Tec both – naked males have a tendency do do this. And yeah, April Maey rips that hook!

Ghost raps, “Naija is a rip-off in the event you dwell right here it’s plain to see. Connecting dots could also be arduous with native ISPs… You gotta use your platform to indicate em how the federal government is screwing us with a strap-on…”

Last Ideas

It’s one other good album from Ceemos who retains ageing like high quality wine. Nevertheless, the album sequencing may have finished with better readability to higher specific the album’s idea of music to soundtrack late night time drives or music about Lagos nightlife. That stated, tracks like ‘Falling’ and ‘At Night time’ have good content material, however the manufacturing that carries them isn’t as memorable.

Rankings: /10

• Zero-1.9: Flop

• 2.Zero-Three.9: Close to fall

• four.Zero-5.9: Common

• 6.Zero-7.9: Victory

• eight.Zero-10: Champion

Pulse Score: /10

Album Sequencing: 1.Three/2

Songwriting and Themes: 1.7/2

Manufacturing: 1.four/2

Enjoyability and Satisfaction: 1.6/2

Execution: 1.four/2

Complete:

7.four – Victory